Ameobi begins on road to recovery

Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi is targetting the start of next season after returning from hip surgery in America.

The 25-year-old frontman travelled to the Colorado clinic of top hip specialist Marc Philippon last month to finally undergo the operation which had been on the cards for some months. He will return in eight weeks' time for a check-up, but faces the rest of the current campaign on the sidelines.

Ameobi said: "The ultimate target is to get back for next season. That is my goal and I think that is a realistic target. I am 99% sure I will be right for the start of next season."

Ameobi had been struggling with his hip injury for almost two years, but such was the club's lack of options - £17million signing Michael Owen faces months on the sidelines after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament - he vowed to battle on.

But manager Glenn Roeder's hopes of nursing him through to the January transfer window were dashed and the Nigerian-born striker belatedly flew out to the United States to consult the man who saved former Sunderland player Kevin Kyle's career.

Ameobi said: "Basically, I have had a reconstruction of the hip joint.

"The ball and socket were quite damaged - the surgeon asked me how I had been playing with it, and that just says how much I needed this done.

"But he was confident he could fix everything and he has done that. I feel great, apart from, obviously, being on crutches for a few weeks.

"He has been amazing, the surgeon, and the physios over there have been great. They are very confident I will be back and fully fit.

"No-one else is doing that in the world. He (Dr Philippon) is a pioneer in terms of hips. That filled me with great confidence. He has managed to fix my hip which, at the end of the day, is all I want, to be able to play pain-free and add a few more years on to my career."